About the programme

The BA (Hons) Education and Community Development is designed to help you understand the educational system. It will give you a strong, thorough foundation. The combination of modules has been specifically designed to address the diverse and plural nature of communities.
This course takes a broad view of education as a process. After all, learning takes place in many situations, and various people, organisations and social institutions have influence over it. On your course you’ll also gain the knowledge, skills and understandings needed for successful citizenship.
If you’re interested in school teaching, the degree could lead to the one-year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in primary years. But this is a degree that can also be valuable in areas outside teaching, too.

Programme modules:

Level 1

• Critical Reading and Writing
• Sociology of Education
• Communities, Learning and Education
• Diaspora Communities in the UK
• Sociology of Childhood
• Introduction to Citizenship

Level 2

• Research Design and Method
• Professional Development
• Community Development, Politics, Policy and Practice
• Social Policy and Legislation for Children and Families
• Key Concepts in Citizenship
• Creative Writing, Fiction and Community

Level 3

• Research Project
• Educational Issues and Special Educational Needs
• Contemporary Issues in Education and Training
• Community Arts Education in Transition
• Multicultural and Global Citizenship

Learning materials

This programme is offered on a distance-learning basis allowing you to select your learning environment – be it at home, office or a public library. Learning materials are presented in the format of textbooks with specially written Study Guides containing interactive activities; feedback is provided to enable you to monitor your own progress.
Student / student discussion and student / tutor discussion opportunities are available via our Online Student Community Website. Additional learning resources include access to ATHENS and UK Libraries Plus system.

Assessment and examinations

There is an expectation that students require this first year to "learn how to learn". This means that the degree award only draws on marks in level II and III for the final classification.
For Single and Major Pathways a Project module is compulsory at level III. This allows students the opportunity to put into practice what they have learnt on their programme.

Duration

Each module requires 200 study hours (approximately six months) but you can study more than one module at a time.

Award

BA (Hons) Education and Community Development on successful completion of the full programme. You can also study individual modules, or gain an Ordinary BA degree, a Diploma of Higher Education, a Certificate of Higher Education, a University Undergraduate Certificate or a University Undergraduate Associate Certificate depending on the number of modules completed.